title: Clostridium difficile binary toxin (CDT) and diarrhea.
abstract: Clostridium difficile is a major enteropathogen of humans. It produces two main virulence factors, toxins A and B. A third, less well known toxin, C. difficile toxin (CDT), is a binary toxin composed of distinct enzymatic (CdtA) and cell binding/translocation (CdtB) proteins. We used a novel enzyme linked immunoassay (EIA) to detect CdtB protein in feces and culture fluids. Additionally, PCR was used to assay C. difficile isolates from fecal samples for the CDT locus (CdtLoc). Although the results from 80 isolates suggest no relationship between toxin concentrations in situ and in vitro, there is a good correlation between PCR detection of the cdtB gene and EIA detection of CdtB protein in vitro. Possible implications of the detection of CDT in patients are discussed.
authors.affiliation: TechLab Inc., Blacksburg, VA 24060-6358, USA. rjcarman@techlab.com
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Carman
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lyerly
authors.forename: Megan F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hiltonsmith
authors.forename: Bradley G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Stiles
authors.forename: Tracy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Wilkins
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C410164:actin-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase, Clostridium